US says it played ‘essential role’ in de-escalating India-Pakistan tensions

The United States said Tuesday it had played an “essential role” in de-escalating tensions on the sub-continent and that it continues to follow “very closely” reports that Pakistan used American-made military hardware — F-16s and missiles — in a retaliatory strike against India.

Phone calls by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Indian and Pakistani leaders last week “played an essential role in de-escalating tensions between the two sides”, state department spokesperson Robert Palladino told reporters in response to a question at the daily briefing.

While in Hanoi, Vietnam for the second US-North Korean summit, Pompeo had spoken to India’s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and NSA Ajit Doval and Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Read More